Dark Shadows

America’s first and foremost soap-opera vampire, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp at his fruitiest), wakes up in 1972 and has to contend with something even stronger than the curse of the undead: women’s lib. Before Tim Burton’s gleeful horror comedy hits its gothic brick wall in the final reel, he and the cast have an ungodly amount of fun playing old-fashioned squire Barnabas against an array of uppity, unsatisfied females. Chief among them is Eva Green as witch Angelique, vengeful victim of Barnabas’ unrequited love – but there’s also the family matriarch (Michelle Pfeiffer), a randy shrink (Helena Bonham Carter), the virginal nanny (Bella Heathcote), and Chloë Grace Moretz as the vamp’s unimpressed teenage descendant. Director Burton and his visual crew – DP Bruno Delbonnel, production designer Rick Heinrichs, et al. – outdo themselves in the grotty tchotchkes-and-mist dept., and Seth Grahame-Smith’s screenplay (from a story he wrote with John August, adapted from the TV series by Dan Curtis) is ripe with witty situations. Burton’s best since Ed Wood. Also with Jackie Earle Haley as Willie the caretaker, and Christopher Lee, perfect as a gnarled old sea captain. (113 min.)
ByKelly Vance